On Thursday, Senegal's newly elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, embarked on his first official visit to the leaders of recent coups in West Africa, aiming to resolve the ongoing regional crisis.
President Faye traveled to Mali and Burkina Faso on May 30 for a "friendship and working visit," as announced by the Senegalese presidency, to bolster "historic ties of good neighborly relationships."
In Ouagadougou, Faye met Burkina Faso's leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and in Bamako, he met Colonel Assimi Goïta, the president of Mali's transitional government. Both leaders, who came to power through coups, have strained relationships with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in which Senegal plays a significant role.
Despite the tense relations between these coup leaders and some West African counterparts, they share a common pan-Africanist and sovereignist ideology with President Faye. Elected on a platform of breaking away from neo-colonial influences and advocating change, Faye's stance raised questions among Western partners and within ECOWAS about his alignment.
Faye, however, asserted his commitment to solidarity within ECOWAS, emphasizing the need for reforms and addressing misunderstandings. Speaking in Abidjan on May 7, he highlighted ECOWAS as a vital integration tool that should be preserved, directly addressing concerns about the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The discussions between Faye and his counterparts in Mali and Burkina Faso are expected to focus on the future of ECOWAS, the CFA franc, a symbol of French post-colonial influence, and security issues in a region beset by armed terrorist groups.
Positioning himself as a regional leader, Faye aims to enhance negotiations with European countries on issues such as migration and economic agreements. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking anonymously, noted that these regional visits are intended to present Faye's views to his counterparts and improve diplomatic and economic relations with Europe.
During his campaign, Faye, a member of PASTEF (African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Fraternity), promised to renegotiate fishing agreements with the European Union and gas and oil contracts with foreign operators.
He discussed these matters with European Council President Charles Michel during his visit to Dakar on April 23, advocating for a "revised, renewed partnership."
Faye's meeting with Rwandan leader Paul Kagame in mid-May, symbolizing African sovereignty and a balanced relationship with the West, resonated with Faye's vision and bolstered his popularity among Senegal's youth.
Faye is now preparing for his upcoming trip to France on June 20, where he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron. "Faye aims to create a balance between breaking with the past and ensuring continuity," said Mamadou Lamine Sarr, a political science professor at Dakar's Cheikh Hamidou Kane University.